PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lusmu Kutvonen (ranked 676 p4p, 617 weight class) and Juan Pique (ranked 45 p4p, 39 weight class). Pique is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Piranha. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kutvonen
vs
Pique

170 cm
31
142
18 - 12 - 2

170 cm
32
136
22 - 15 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
Voodoo Nutrition

Conquer
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Lusmu Kutvonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 3, fighting out of London, Juan Pique!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pique ducks under a wild hook from Kutvonen.
Pique throws the left hand but Kutvonen avoids the punch easily.
Pique wants to slow Kutvonen down by chopping away at his legs.
Kutvonen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kutvonen tests Pique's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pique misses with the combination.
Kutvonen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Pique throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Kutvonen counters with a single leg into guard. Pique didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kutvonen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kutvonen throws a big right hand that misses.
Kutvonen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pique pulls Kutvonen in to control the position.
Kutvonen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Kutvonen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pique works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kutvonen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kutvonen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pique is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kutvonen working some strikes from top position.
Kutvonen won't allow Pique to sweep him here.
Kutvonen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kutvonen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pique works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kutvonen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kutvonen is fighting to break Pique's control of his arms but Pique is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kutvonen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kutvonen won't allow Pique to get back to his feet.
Kutvonen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pique.
Kutvonen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A nice leg kick from Pique, right into the meat of the thigh.
Juan Pique is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pique throws an overhand right that lands on Kutvonen's shoulder, as Kutvonen tries to avoid the shot.
Kutvonen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Pique throws a body kick that misses.

Kutvonen drives through with a takedown into Pique's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kutvonen being controlled here momentarily.
Kutvonen postures up.
Pique is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kutvonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pique is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pique looking for a sweep. Not yet Pique, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kutvonen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pique keeping full guard, as Kutvonen tries to pass.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pique wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Kutvonen is now in half guard.
Pique gets full guard.
Pique managing to control the position.
Pique manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kutvonen manages to get himself to full guard.

Kutvonen throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pique stopping the sweep attempt from Kutvonen.
Pique trying to control the position from guard on top but Kutvonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pique controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kutvonen keeping moving, preventing Pique from controlling successfully.
Kutvonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pique is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've been informed that Pique has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lusmu Kutvonen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A swing and a miss from Kutvonen.
Kutvonen looks to land a left hand but Pique moved out of range nicely.
Pique swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kutvonen blocks a leg kick.
Kutvonen attempts a counter takedown but Pique avoids it well and moves away.
Pique misses the jab.
Kutvonen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kutvonen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pique defends it nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Pique misses the target.
Pique throws a jab but it's blocked by Kutvonen.
Kutvonen lands a jab to Pique's midsection.
Kutvonen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pique.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kutvonen jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Kutvonen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kutvonen scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pique is positioning himself well to prevent Kutvonen advancing to mount.
Pique taking some punishment here, with Kutvonen in his half guard.
Kutvonen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pique defending well though.
Pique is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kutvonen connects with a nice short shot to Pique's temple.
Pique trying to control from the bottom.
Pique is looking to improve his position.
Pique is not content to let Kutvonen control the position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kutvonen connects with a nice short shot to Pique's temple.
Pique is looking to improve his position.
Pique makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kutvonen throws an elbow that misses. Pique uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kutvonen's guard. Nice move by Pique!

Pique stopping the sweep attempt from Kutvonen.
Kutvonen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kutvonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pique is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pique looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Pique trying to keep a closed guard but Kutvonen is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kutvonen lands a couple of digs.
Pique has momentary wrist control but Kutvonen slips an elbow through the middle.
Pique looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kutvonen is one step ahead there.
Pique wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Pique wants to stand and escape but Kutvonen is having none of it.
Kutvonen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pique can do to turn this around?
Kutvonen postures up and lands a big shot to Pique's brow.
Kutvonen works over Pique with some ground and pound from guard.
Kutvonen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kutvonen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kutvonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pique has Kutvonen pulled in close to control his posture.
Kutvonen trying to control but Pique is working from the bottom.
Pique is pulling down on Kutvonen's head. It's preventing any offense from Kutvonen, at least for the moment.
Kutvonen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kutvonen chips away with some ground and pound.
Pique pulls Kutvonen in to control the position.
Kutvonen preventing the sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lusmu Kutvonen dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Pique throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Kutvonen shoots in and bounces Pique off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pique tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kutvonen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kutvonen won't allow Pique to sweep him here.
Kutvonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pique is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pique looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kutvonen forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kutvonen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pique gets back to full guard.
Pique wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Kutvonen is now in half guard.
Kutvonen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kutvonen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Pique manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kutvonen wants to control from the top but Pique keeps moving.
Pique has Kutvonen pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pique controls Kutvonen momentarily but Kutvonen frees himself.
Juan Pique has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pique throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Kutvonen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pique looking for a sweep. Not yet Pique, not yet.
Kutvonen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lusmu Kutvonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kutvonen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kutvonen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Pique trying to control the position.
Kutvonen preventing the sweep.
Kutvonen is working Pique over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pique tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kutvonen connects with a couple of short punches.
Pique wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kutvonen landing with the ground and pound.
Lusmu Kutvonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pique controlling the position.
Pique trying to strike off his back.
Kutvonen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Pique wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kutvonen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Pique throws out a loose jab but Kutvonen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pique's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kutvonen under the eye.
Kutvonen lands a glancing blow to the side of Pique's head.
Jab from Kutvonen.
Kutvonen staying out of range there.
Pique misses with a low kick.
Pique keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pique tries a low kick but Kutvonen avoids it.
Kutvonen feinted with a counter takedown.
A lazy left from Pique finds it's target.

Kutvonen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Pique makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pique pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kutvonen is out of range and Pique settles back down.
Pique throws an overhand right that lands on Kutvonen's shoulder, as Kutvonen tries to avoid the shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lusmu Kutvonen.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kutvonen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lusmu Kutvonen!
Lusmu Kutvonen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.